India largely ignored a recent news story stating that a Chinese research vessel was scheduled to make a third port call in the Maldives this year. Given India’s growing security worries with China, a “research vessel” that can conduct underwater study for mineral reserves and do satellite searches is equivalent to a “spy ship”.
Regarding a different “China-related” development in the neighborhood, the same Indian quiet is not possible. After clarifying that no decision had been made to lift the one-year prohibition on all foreign research vessels when it was supposed to expire on January 1, 2025, as previously claimed by a Japanese media article, the commotion subsided.
The minister stated, “At the end of the year, we will evaluate the situation and